Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 27, On October 23, 2025, Orange successfully demonstrated 50G-PON technology in real-world conditions in Lyon and Marseille, marking a first in France following previous laboratory experiments. This new generation of fiber access technology promises speeds five times faster than current standards, supporting the growing demand for bandwidth and enabling advanced internet use for both businesses and consumers.

To showcase its performance, Orange organized a live test between two gamers — Crimson in Lyon and Kayane in Marseille — who competed in a match of 2XKO, a fighting game developed by Riot Games. The demonstration highlighted the technology’s low latency and high-speed capabilities in practical applications.

Orange’s fiber networks use passive infrastructures such as fibers, cables, connectors, and boxes, along with Passive Optical Networks (PON) for transmission. The network currently operates with GPON (Gigabit-capable PON) and has been upgraded to XGS-PON (10 Gigabit Symmetrical-capable PON), offering speeds of 8 gigabits per second downstream and upstream. With the 2023 launch of the Livebox 7, Orange introduced XGS-PON to provide customers with enhanced speeds.

50G-PON represents the next evolution, designed to meet future high-speed needs while remaining compatible with the existing network. A simple replacement of network cards in optical central offices will allow customers to connect to the 50G-PON system without extensive infrastructure changes.

The technology is now reaching technological maturity and is expected to increase network capacity for advanced enterprise applications, especially for large business sites, and eventually for residential use as demand grows. Orange aims to maintain a leading position in connectivity technology while ensuring environmentally responsible deployments.

Christian Gacon, Director of Broadband Networks and Services at Orange, said: “It is still early to predict the potential applications of 50G-PON technology. However, thanks to Orange’s investments in fiber deployment, it will be easy to transition to this technology when the time comes. Through its research activities, Orange is already preparing the future of its networks.”

Orange’s ongoing research and development efforts focus on anticipating connectivity requirements for both commercial and consumer markets. By demonstrating 50G-PON in real-world conditions, the company confirms its readiness to meet future demands and provide reliable high-speed internet services while leveraging existing network infrastructure efficiently.